Can opener and dispenser



July 26, 1938.

T. H. GERDES CAN OPENER AND DISPENSER Filed April 19, 1937 onlegEnventor Thead'or-a 79 GerZaS,

Patented July 26, 1938 UNITE STATES ATENT QFHQE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in can openers and dispensers, andit is an object of my improvements to supply a device of this class atonce inexpensive, convenient in its uses and suitable for operation ingarages, filling stations, or elsewhere where quick service isindispensable and required.

Another object of my improvements is to include in the elements coactingin the mechanism of my said contrivance, means for releasablyresiliently locking the device when in use on cans, thus relieving theoperative from the necessity of keeping manual control of this meanswhen holding, transporting or using the device at the times mentioned.

Another object of my invention is to fashion the device for manual useand whereby a can to be treated may be openly encompassed from the frontthereof by readily releasable means quickly operable.

Another object of my improvements is to include in the device means forpermitting its use in inclo-sing and treating cans of differingdimensions conveniently, and obviating the necessity for the employmentof a plurality of the devices for separate use thereon.

Another object of my improvements is to include in the mechanism meansfor adjusting a vent-tube and perforater therein to thus equip theinvention suitably for use upon cans of different diameters, whilereleasably engaging them therewith.

These and other improvements to be described, are treated of in thespecification, claims and drawing hereof, but it is to be understoodthat various changes may be effected in the device, in its structuresand connections, without departing from this invention or the appendedclaims.

Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved can opener and dispenser,showing it extended in full lines, and with certain moving elementsthereof displayed also in broken lines to show it in operating positionand relation toa can to be opened used in dispensing or evacuating itsoil or other liquid contents, parts being sectioned or broken away. Fig.2 is a detail view of the resiliently controlled canting brake device,seen from the rear of the invention as in locked condition with themovable stem support of the combination can perforator and deliveryspout.

The numeral I denotes a circular horizontal ring base upon which a canto be treated may be removably mounted, the ring having a radialprojection or parallel pair of such projections 2 whose upper edge oredges may be indented at 3 to receive the lower head fiange of the canto prevent dislodgement while being operated upon. The projection orprojections 2 terminate in a fiat ring 4 to receive the lower end partof an erect tubular or cupped standard 8, and a setscrew 5 may be usedto adjustably secure said elements together to permit the ring base I tobe raised or lowered as desired, but this ring base may be permanentlyfixed on the standard. A handle l2 may be fixed on at the rear to saidstandard. A coiled compression spring 1 is positioned in the lower partand hollow of the standard to extend upwardly therein a suitabledistance, and a cylindrical stem 8 is in part movably inclosed in thestandard, resting upon the upper end of said spring, and to projectabove the upper end of the standard a suitable distance, and this stemcarries a forwardly directed planar horizontal arm 11% rigidly, theforward end of the arm having a vertical hollow body l9 rigid thereon,having preferably a delivery spout 2 5 on and communicating with itsupper end. The lower depending portion of the body l9 has a fixedcircular flange 20 therearound, and a rubber washer, downwardlyconcaved, at 2| is seated removably on the depending part of said bodyand stopped by the ring 20. A little below this washer the terminationof body 19 is obliquely shaped and pointed at 23, and the body l9 has anotch forwardly at 22 just above said beveled edge or cutting point 23.

The arm l8 has a medial bearing hole 32 in which is seated movably a pin25, headed at the top, threaded at its lower end to seat thereon a nut28, and a short arm 2i is apertured to be loosely bracketed on said pinintermediate the bar It and said nut. A hollow depending punch 30 hasits upper end fixed in said arm 2i, and has a beveled piercingtermination 3!. The numerals 29 and 33 denote respectively a pair ofvertical holes in the arm l8 disposed at equal distances oppositely fromthe pin 25, and to receive alternately the slightly upwardly directedend of the hollow punch 30, as shown in dotted lines, whereby this punchmay be employed to punch air-vent holes in can tops of two differentdiameters, a pair of such cans being depicted in dotted lines in Fig. l.The arm 21 is lowered a sufficient distance when the pin 25 is presseddown, so that the arm may be rocked to either hole 29 or 33, and whenthe same is registered with either, the pin may be released, to allowthe upper part of the punch 30 to enter and engage the wall of eitherhole 29 or 33.

Referring particularly to said Fig. 2, the numeral l3 denotes anupwardly directed eyed member or ring secured at its lower end to oneside of the standard 8 near it stop and to slidably and rockably seat anotherwise free end of a laterally projecting arm including an annularpart l4 which has an outwardly bent fingerpiece l5. The numeral l6denotes an upwardly obliquely directed bent finger fixed on the oppositeouter wall of the standard 8, and carries on its upper end a shortcoiled compression spring I! whose upper end engages beneath the annularpart M tending to rock the latter up to cant upon the stem 8 above thestandard, to lock therewith frictionally, but releasably.

Within the hollow of the standard 6 the stem 8 has a longitudinal slot 9therethrough, loosely traversed by a cross pin [0, with bolt-head II andnut not shown on the opposite end, said pin also traversing the wall ofthe standard fixedly, and thus to limit the up and down play of the stemin the standard.

Operation-A closed can, filled with oil or other liquid, as shown indotted lines in diameters of difierent length, may be seated on the ringbase I. The air vent punch 30 may be if necessary adjusted to locate itin either arm hole 29 or 33, according to the special diameter of thecan to be treated, as shown in full and dotted lines respectively. Thenthe operator manually presses downwardly upon the arm 18, thus causingthe pointed cutting terminations 2-3 and 3| of the punches l9 and 30 topuncture and pass below the top wall of the can a sufficient distance tolocate these parts within the can, including the notch 22 in the punchIS. The arm H5 in descending compresses the spring I in the hollow ofthe standard 6. The operator meanwhile also depresses the'bent arm l4and [5 by his thumb, holding the ring I 4 released loosely from the stem8. When he has punctured the top wall of the can as stated, he releasesthe bent arm is and I5, permitting the spring I1, then compressed, torecoil and push upwardly rockingly the ring part M to frictionally cantupon and with the wall of the stem 8 to hold the stem 8 and the punchesl9 and 30 at rest in the positions shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Theoperator then may tilt the can by using the handle I2 to evacuate thewhole or a portion of its liquid contents from the can. When the can isemptied, the bent arm or lever l4 and I5 may be pushed downwardly torelease the stem 8, the compressed spring I then recoiling upwardly toreturn the arm l8 and its punches to initial positions.

The downwardly concaved washer 2i serves to seal the can around thepunch, and the notch 22 serves when the can is tilted sufiiciently toevacuate the contents, to drain out any portion of liquid which may coatthe interior wall of the can. The device in its forwardly open state maythus conveniently receive a can or permit its removal forwardly, withoutinterference with adjacent objects. It will be understood that the slot9 in the stem 8 is long enough to permit the punches to be used withcans of difierent heights in the puncturing of their top walls.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described,

rigidly connected air-vent and spouted hollow punches, supporting meansupon which they are resiliently mounted for to and fro movementsrelative to a can to be punctured and tapped by both, and the puncturingtermination of the spouted punch having a lateral drainage aperture toopen into the can flush with the lower face of its top wall for completedrainage of the inverted can when punctured thereby.

2. In a device of the character described, rigidly connected air-ventand spouted hollow punches, supporting means upon which they are mountedfor punching a wall of a can to be discharged of liquid contents, thepuncturing termination of the spouted punch having a drainage apertureopening into the can fiush with the inner lower face of its top wallwhen the can is inverted and an elastic washer for sealing the joint ofthe said punch and can.

3. In a device of the character described, a rigid supporting member, aterminal spouted punch thereon having a cutter end for penetrating awall of a can to be discharged of its liquid contents, and an air-venthollow punch on said member for simultaneously penetrating the cantogether with the spouted punch, said air-vent punch being looselyrockably, mounted on said member endwise, and the member having spacedseats therealong; with which the latter punch may be releasably engagedwith either to permit said punches to be spaced from each other variablyto operate upon cans of diifering diameters.

4. In a device of the character described, a rigid supporting membermounted for to and fro movements relative to a closed receptacle to betapped, a terminal spouted punch on said member having a cutter .end forpenetrating a can end, an air vent hollow punch mounted loosely on saidmember swingingly, the punch being adapted for releasable engagementswith different parts of the member to adjust its position of spacingapart from the spouted punch releasably,

and being loosely resiliently mounted on the" member.

5. A device of the character described, comprising in combination,connected spout carrying and air-vent hollow punches, the spout carryingpunch having a cutting termination and a wall aperture adjacent theretofor drainage of a can nearly discharged of its contents, the air-ventpunch being horizontally rockably and adjustably associated with thespout carrying punch to space it in any of different distances therefromsimultaneously in use and for air venting the can punctured by anddischarging through the spout carrying punch, and resilient supportingmeans for said punches, with means manually operable to brake and holdreleasably said supporting means while the can is being discharged ofits contents or while being engaged with the punches.

6. A device of the character described, comprising in combination,connected discharge and spout carrying and air-vent hollow punches, theair-vent punch being supported and positionally adjustable to and fromthe: spout-carrying punch,

means for releasably holding the punches re-,

siliently braked when in communication with a closed liquid containingcan punctured thereby, and means for adjustably limiting the scope ofmovements of said punches.

THEODORE H. GERDES.

